Special Side Story Episode 1

I gazed up at the clear sky and leisurely lifted my teacup.

The fragrant scent of flowers, the cool breeze, the crisp air—it was truly a peace lacking in nothing.

[Gah! This is a rock I gathered to build my nest!]

[Rock, here and there, rolling.]

[Kek! If there are rocks lying around, you can just dig them up and use them, you lump of stone! Too lazy to shake off the dirt, so you steal someone else's rock?]

[Wait, my arm. My arm.]

In the distance, I could see gargoyles and golems noisily shouting and tussling, but truly, to be considered the rightful master of Veladia Castle, one must be able to smile and ignore such minor disputes. Those kinds of squabbles no longer even registered as noise to me.

There had been times when fights were so fierce they nearly brought down a section of the castle wall; a golem losing an arm was but a trivial disagreement.

As I peacefully ignored the monsters' scuffles and sipped my tea, the uniformly blue sky flickered. A barrier, resembling the scales of a snake, briefly appeared and vanished. It was Xenon's barrier surrounding Veladia Castle reacting to magical power. That phenomenon indicated that a warp gate connected to Veladia Castle had been activated.

Xenon, who had gone to the Magic Tower, had finally returned.

I had received word beforehand that he would return around today, but seeing him keep his promise so precisely made me feel a swell of pride.

Sure enough, soon Xenon, clad in a shimmering wizard's robe, appeared amidst the throng of monsters large and small.

The subtle sheen was dazzling enough to catch the eye even from afar, and the color of the fabric resembled the hue of a plump sprout emerging under the spring sun. It didn't look like a typical wizard's robe, but it suited Xenon, with his red hair, so perfectly that merely looking at it was satisfying.

Once, I had offhandedly remarked that all wizard robes seemed to be dull colors, and now he always appears draped in robes of such bright, pretty hues. Seeing that his robe is different every time he leaves and returns, I suspect he might have hired a dedicated wardrobe manager at the Magic Tower.

The fact that Xenon adorns himself so beautifully is entirely an effort to look good for me, which, from my perspective, is an extremely gratifying thing.

Holding the hem of his robe to keep it from touching the monsters and deftly weaving his way through them, he spotted me sitting at the outdoor table and, his face lighting up, dashed over in an instant.

Just as I was about to smile and greet him as he drew near, he urgently spoke first.

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

When I asked back, bewildered, Xenon's eyes widened.

"They say a royal marriage has been arranged!"

"...Oh."

There was only one person who could be the subject of a royal marriage.

I hadn't heard the news, but if Xenon's words were true, a formal invitation would arrive soon. Resting my chin on my hand, I let out a low sigh and nodded calmly.

"That is a matter for congratulations."

It had been some time since his ascension to the throne, so it was about time to stabilize his power. In fact, considering various incidents, one could even say it was a bit late. Given Heinri's position, those around him likely wouldn't have left him alone.

Moreover, due to the disgraceful exit of his predecessor, Heinri's close associates must have been extremely anxious.

By the way, what should I prepare as a wedding gift?

Pondering what on earth to gift an Emperor who likely lacks for nothing, I noticed Xenon staring intently at my indifferent reaction, his face suddenly scrunching up. Then he blurted out in a sulky tone.

"What about us?"

...Huh?

"...Sit down first. Catch your breath while having some tea."

Calming down Xenon, whose thoughts had veered off in a strange direction, I placed an extra teacup in his hand.

As I brought out the spare tableware I had prepared in advance, knowing he would come around this time, Xenon's eyes widened. Then, as if his earlier excitement had never happened, he smiled broadly and promptly sat down across from me.

His demeanor, asking if I had been waiting for him, was tinged with elation. It looked cute, yet perversely made me want to tease him, so I responded with a nonchalant expression. Xenon, taking the hint, answered his own question. His face was still flushed with excitement.

After taking a sip of tea, he seemed much calmer. However, that alone apparently wasn't enough to make him forget the shocking marriage news.

"We're still a couple, and that man, who never seemed to have time to meet women because of work, is getting married. How could I not be surprised?"

It was true that Heinri had seemed busy dealing with various issues. However, the imperial palace isn't located in the middle of a mountain range teeming with monsters in every direction like this place.

In the heart of the capital, where one could meet plenty of people even late at night close to midnight, saying he couldn't meet anyone due to work would be nothing but an excuse.

"One can meet people while working. Especially someone like him; there must have been hundreds of women within arm's reach vying for his favor."

Heinri is both handsome and of the highest status, so ambitious women's advances must have been continuous. Stroking my chin, I imagined the piles of love letters that must have flooded the Emperor's office, then shrugged.

"It wouldn't be strange if he took a liking to one of them."

For some reason, Xenon looked shocked at my words. Lips quivering as if betrayed, Xenon clenched his fist.

"That man, who pined so desperately for Lady Anelli, has now gone and confessed his love to someone else just like that!"

"Well, he gave up on me a long time ago."

Heinri, who told me to leave, seemed to have neatly packed away his feelings afterward. And the last time I met him, what remained in him instead of lingering affection was... how should I put it? A kind of familiarity one might feel toward a friend who has shared life and death. It was an outcome that couldn't be better for both him and me.

And Xenon, who witnessed that scene at the time, was extremely satisfied that he was the only one by my side. So the reason he's jumping up and down now is less because Heinri gave up on me, and more because he thinks the feelings were transferred in an instant. His talk of love gave it away.

"Generally, the marriages of those in power are not born of love. As he is the Emperor, welcoming an Empress as soon as possible is practically an obligation."

Of course, it's possible Heinri truly fell passionately in love with someone and decided to marry, but still.

Even at my words, Xenon wore an expression of disbelief. Sitting with a very sullen face and sipping his tea, he muttered as if to himself.

"Ha, no matter how fast it was, they couldn't have known each other for long. To jump straight into marriage without even a proper period of getting to know each other!"

"I told you, the marriages of those in power are transactions."

I replied calmly. Xenon also seemed to regard Heinri as quite a close friend, so perhaps the news of a close friend getting married left him feeling unsettled.

Pouting and lost in thought, Xenon suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked at me.

"You're not planning on making a transaction through marriage yourself, are you?"

"I have no need for that. Not only do I not lack such things, but there's nothing I could gain from a marriage alliance. If anything, I'd only incur losses."

The usual benefits gained from marriage are power, wealth, and social elevation. But these three are utterly useless elements to me.

Who would dare propose a transaction through marriage to me, the Resurrected One, master of Veladia Castle, Captain of powerful Dullahans, and possessor of vast connections? If anyone tried, it would only attract packs of jackals trying to take what is mine.

Just imagining it made my head throb and fatigue wash over me. Perhaps because I've grown accustomed to the tranquil life at Veladia Castle, the sight of calculating, pretentious nobles swarming about now only feels dizzying.

I quickly shook my head to dispel the thought, when suddenly a low question came from across the table.

"...Would it necessarily only bring losses?"

Xenon's expression as he asked cautiously was peculiar. Staring blankly at him, I tilted my head and countered.

"What benefit could there be for me?"

"Well... for example, being able to monopolize one person's love for a lifetime..."

At that, I inadvertently let out a sigh. Was Xenon worried that I might desire someone else's love? If that's the case, I could definitively say it was a completely useless worry.

Just look at my current state: sitting at an outdoor table since early morning, sipping tea, waiting for Xenon, who I didn't even know when he'd arrive.

Even when I thought I loved Maxel, I never made such a fuss like this.

"The love you give me now is more than enough."